Workington Opera House
History
![The Workington Opera House.](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c1/Operahouse2010.jpg/220px-Operahouse2010.jpg)
The theatre was designed by T. L. Banks & Townsend and had a small auditorium with two balconies accommodating 1,130 people. The theatre was also equipped with a small stage with a proscenium width of 11 metres, a depth of 9.14 metres and a grid height of 14 metres. An orchestra pit for 16 musicians was also included.
- Other names:
- Queen's Jubilee Hall
- Dates:
- Opened 1888. Date of first use not known.
- 1888 - Design/Construction:
- T.L. Banks & Townsend - Architect
- 1897-1900 - Alteration: reconstructed after explosion (architect unknown)
- 1927-1930 - Alteration: reconstructed after fire (architect unknown)
- 1963-1970 - Alteration: façade rebuilt (architect unknown)
Current owners
Graves (Cumberland) Ltd currently own the building and have planning permission for 5 years to replace the theatre with retail and residential units. Graves own many different assets across Cumbria including cinemas, bingo halls and in the past they owned and ran a number of theatres.
![SAVE Workington Opera House.](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/71/SAVEworkingtonoperahouselogoSQ.png/220px-SAVEworkingtonoperahouselogoSQ.png)
The future of the theatre
The Workington Opera House is now under threat of demolition to be replaced with retail units and flats. The Save Workington Opera House group are fighting to have this building made available to the town of Workington as a working civic theatre that the community can be proud of.
Specifications
- Capacities:
- Original: 1,330
- After 1950: 1,219
- Listings:
- Grade not listed
- Stage type:
- Dimensions
- Stage dimensions:
- Depth: 9.14m
- Proscenium width: 11m
- Height to grid: 14m
- Orchestra pit: Original, for 16 musicians
- Stage dimensions:
References
- ^ "The Opera House, Pow Street, Workington, Cumbria". arthurlloyd.co.uk. Retrieved 2 April 2011.
- ^ "GRAVES (CUMBERLAND) LIMITED". Companies in the UK. Retrieved 2 April 2011.
- ^ "Civic trust backs plans to demolish Workington's Opera House". News and Star. Retrieved 6 April 2010.
- ^ "Save Workington Opera House". Workington Opera House. Retrieved 6 April 2010.
- ^ "Opera House (Workington)". Theatres Trust. Retrieved 2 May 2010.